Wrapping machine



July 31, 19.34. F. R. CLARK WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1931 4Sheets-Sheet l INVENTOR. fiA/yc/s [Pass [2A 1% BY 9 2625 A TTORN E Y5;

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1931 4 sheetsfsheet 2 '7 wfl 3; QINVENTOR.

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y 1934- F. R. CLARK 1,968,190

WRAEPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1951 4 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVEN TOR. IfZ'Mc/s [1 05s CZ/MA ATTORNEYS.

July 31, 1934. F. R. CLARK 1,968,190

WRAPPING MACHINE Filed Sept. 4, 1931 4 Sheets-Sheet 4 INVENTOR.

ATTORNEYS.

Patented July 31, 1934 UNITED STATES WRAPPING MACHINE Francis RossClark, Springfield, Mass., assignor to Package Machinery Company,Springfield, Mass., a corporation of Massachusetts Application September4, 1931, Serial No. 561,196

13 Claims.

This invention relates to wrapping machines, and has specific referenceto a machine for wrapping and sealing in moisture-proof cellophane apackage having'indented ends. While the machine taken as a whole hasparticular application to this specific use certain features may findemployment in machines of other types. One object of the invention is toprovide mechanism for forming the cellophane wrapper into the indented19 ends of the package and for sealing it in place to produce ahermetically tight wrapping and to prevent the normally resilientcellophane from springing out of place. A further object is to provideimproved means for applying a solvent between the overlying surfaces ofthe wrapper flaps. A further object is to improve the mechanism forevaporating the solvent. A further object is to provide improvedmechanism for receiving a partially wrapped article from a wrappingwheel and 20 conveying it through the remaining folding mechanism. Afurther object is to improve the end folding mechanism heretoforeapplied to machines of this general character. Additional objects willappear from the following description and claims.

Referring to the drawings Fig. 1 is a vertical section of a machineembodying the invention, taken at the edge of the folding channel;

Fig. 2 is a side elevation, on a larger scale, of mechanism partiallyshown in Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a view similar to Fig. 2 but with th parts in a differentposition of operation;

1 Fig. 4 is a section on an enlarged scale, taken on line 44 of Fig. 1;

Fig. 5 is a detail showing the start of the wrapping operation;

Fig. 6 is a detail showing the manner in which solvent is applied to thelongitudinal margin of the wrapper;

Fig. 7 is a detail showing the ejection of the partially wrapped articlefrom the wrapping wheel to the folding channel and the formation of therear end tucks;

Fig. 8 is a detail plan illustrating the formation of the front endtucks and the application of solvent to the lower surfaces of the upperend flaps;

Fig. 9 is a side elevation of the mechanism in the position of Fig. 8,the article being omitted;

Fig. 10 is a side elevation of the partially wrapped article in thecondition of Fig. 8;

Fig. 11 is a side elevation showing the start of the formation of theupper end folds;

Fig. 12 is a cross-sectional view showing the completion of thefoldingof the upper end flaps and the application of solvent to the uppersurfaces of the lower end flaps;

Fig. 13 is a side elevation showing the folding of the lower end flaps;

Fig. 14 is asectional detail corresponding to Fig. 13;

Figs. 15 and 16 are/ detail plans showing the heating and formingmembers for producing the indented ends of the Wrapper, with theparts-in inactive and active positions respectively;

Fig. 1'7 is a side view of one of the front end tuckers showing thearrangement of the wick for applying solvent to the lower surface of theupper end flap;

Fig. 18 is a section on line 18-18 of Fig. 17; and

for the first solvent applier.

The first wrapping operation (Figs. 1 and 5) is performed by a pusher 20which carries an article a from a feedway 21 through a verticallydisposed wrapper sheet b into one of four pockets formed by yieldableside plates 22 on an intermittently rotatable wrapping wheel or tumblebox 23. The manner in which the article and wrapper are fed or in whichthe wrapping wheel is rotated does not form any part of the invention,and therefore has not been illustrated. Any of the standard mechanismsmay be used for these purposes. The wrapper is initially positioned by astop 24 non-symmetrically with. respect to the pocket in the wrappingwheel, so that when it is forced between the plates 22 one flap c (Fig.5) will underlie and extendpartially over the lower surface of thearticle while the other flap (1 extends completely over the uppersurface of the article and projects considerably beyond it.

As the wrapping wheel stops with the pocket at itsupper position (Fig.6) the flap d rests against a stationary plate 25 mounted upon a. stud26 (Figs. 1, 2, and 3) projecting from a portion 27 of the machine frame28. The wrapper is preferably moisture-proof cellophane, which is verythin and without much rigidity, and it is therefore desirable to providemeans for holding the flap d against the plate. In the present case apipe 29 (Figs. 1 and 6) is provided, connected to a suitable source ofair under pressure and provided with one or more holes 30 directedtowards the plate 25. Air is permitted to issue from the pipecontinuously during the operation Fig. 19 is a detail of the operatingmechanism of the machine, serving to catch each succeeding tion to havesolvent applied to it by the mechanism which will now be described.

Referring particularly to Figs. 2 and 3, the frame part 27 is providedwith ways 31 upon which a bracket 32 is adjustably secured by screws 33passing into the frame through slots 34 in the bracket. The bracketsupports a reservoir 35 having a filling opening 36 in its top and awick 37 extending from its hollow interior to an exposed position on oneof its sides. Upon an oscillating shaft 38 above the reservoir is an arm39 to which is pivoted a dauber 40. A link 41 is journaled on a pivot 42adjustably mounted in a slot 43 in the frame and is pivoted at its otherend to a lug 44 extending from the dauber. The end of the dauber isslotted at 45 to receive a strip of wicking 46. During most of themachine cycle the dauber arm rests with its wick 46 against the wick 37as in Fig. 3. When the flap (2 has been brought against the plate 25,however, the shaft 38 is rocked, causing the wick 46 to travel throughthe path indicated at 47 to apply to the end of the flap the solventwhich had been absorbed previously from the wick 37. For oscillating theshaft 38 an arm 48 is secured to it, connected by a link 49 with a lever50 (Fig. 19) pivoted to the frame and having a cam roll 51 running upona cam 52 fixed upon the main cam shaft 53 of the machine. The arm 48 ispreferably joined to the link 49 through a pivot 54 adjustably securedin a slot 55 in the arm; this adjustment, together with those obtainablewith the pivot 42 and the screws 33, serving to vary the path of thewick 46 so that it may extend different distances down the plat'25.Changes in the length of the fiap d may thus be accommodated.

As the wheel again revolves a quarter of a turn the partially wrappedarticle is brought (Fig. 7) opposite the entrance to a folding channelcomprising a bottom plate 60, spring-pressed top plates 61, and variousend guides and folders which will be described specifically. A pad 62,carried by an arm 63 journaled on a stationary pivot 64 and urgedtowards the wheel by a spring 65 (Fig. 1) presses the flap d againstportions 66 of the wheel during the movement of the wheel and thesubsequent ejection of the article. The wrapper is by this means kepttight around the article. Ejection from the wheel 23 is accomplished byan arm 67 reciprocable through the pockets of the wrapping wheel as theyare brought successively into position. The mechanism for operating theejector has not been illustrated, as it is generally similar to that bywhich the ejector 143 of the Ferguson Patent No. 1,557,039, October '13,1925, is moved. The ejector 67 differs from the one shown in theFerguson patent, however, by being provided with a pair of spacedtucking members 68 which overlap the ends of the article and form therear tucks e (Fig. 10). The corresponding front tucks f are made bystationary tuckers 69 mounted on each side of the folding channel. Inorder to permit the ejector to move the article well into the foldingchannel the rear tuckers 68 are provided with notches 70 so that theymay overlap the front tuckers in the manner shown in Fig. 9.

As best shown in Figs. 17 and 18, the stationary tuckers 69 are eachprovided with a conduit 71 through which a wick or wicks 72 pass to areservoir 73. The wicks preferably extend slightly beyond the uppersurface of the tucker and are beveled off as at 74 so that the upperflaps g will not be caught and injured. As the package passes thetucking plates the wicks supply solvent to the lower faces of the upperflaps.

The articles are picked up from the position in which they are left bythe ejector 67 by a pair of chains 75 (Figs. 1 and 4) mounted onsprockets '76, 77, and 78 and passing through slots in the channel bed60. The sprocket 76 is connected by a chain 79 with a sprocket 80 on theshaft of the wrapping wheel, so that the chains 75 are movedintermittently in synchronism with the wrapping wheel. The first stopsmade by the pushers 81 on the chains 75 is in the position a (Fig. 1)where the previously moistened top flap g is folded down by folders 82.These folders are carried upon rods 83 mounted for verticalreciprocation in the frame and having at their lower ends a pin and slotconnection 84 with a lever 85 pivoted to the frame and having a cam roll87 running against a cam 87 mounted upon the cam shaft 53. These folders82 are made in the form of plates which descend between extensions 88(Fig. 8) of the side tuckers and the ends of the packages, thus knifingthe folds in place in the manner shown in the Ferguson Patent No.1,634,711, July 5, 1927.

The next advance of the article brings it to the position a it havingmeanwhile passed under a heater 89 which keeps the upper plate 61 hotand 'causes the solvent applied to the trailing flap d to penetrate andsoften the coating both on that flap and on the underlying flap c andfinally to be evaporated, leaving the flaps in permanent adherence. Atthis station a a stripe of solvent is applied to the upper surfaces ofthe lower end flaps h by mechanism which will now be described. At eachside of the machine is a lever 90 (Figs. 1, 4, and 12) mounted upon arocking shaft 91. Suspended at the end of the lever by a pivot 92 is atank 93 provided with a filling opening 94. A wick 95 passes over thetop of the tank and is then pointed directly downwardly, being held by acover plate 96. The shaft 91 is rocked once during each stoppage of anarticle at the station a by a link 97 connected at one end to an arm 98on the shaft and forked at its other end to embrace an oscillating shaft99. A roll 100 (Fig. 4) on the link coacts with'a cam 101 on the shaft99 so that the tanks 93 will be lowered upon each oscillation of theshaft. To produce this oscillation a pinion 102 (Fig. 1) on the shaftmeshes with a rack bar 103 straddling the main cam shaft 53 and having aroll 104 running in a suitable grooved cam thereon.

During their travel from the station a to the next succeeding stopposition a the articles are acted on by vertically reciprocating folders105 (Figs. 1, 4, 13, and 14) which carry the lower end flaps h upwardlyacross the retaining plates 106 which receive the articles from thefolders 82. These folders 105 preferably act while the article is inmotion in order to avoid the necessity of too long a folding channel.The folders are carried upon rack bars 107 meshing with pinions on theoscillating shaft 99.

In the next stop position a3 the article is positioned, its folds'nowcompletely made, between indenting plungers 108 (Figs. 1, 4, and 15)carried upon large electrically heated members 109. These members aremounted, as best shown in Fig. 4, upon the top of arms 110 each mountedupon a pivot shaft 111. One of the arms has a projecting lug 112 bearinga set screw 113 adapted to strike the upper side of a similar lug 114upon the other arm. This second lug is adapted to rest upon a stationaryset screw 115 and to be acted upon LTD by a set screw 116 mounted uponthe end of a rocking bell-crank lever 117, the other end of which bearsa roll 118 (Fig. 1) running on the surface of a cam 119 on the shaft 53.A spring 121 (Fig. 4) joins the two arms 110 so that they are drawntogether by a yielding pressure except when forced apart by the cam 119.During the advancing movement of the articles the heating members areheld separated, but they are allowed to approach each other as soon asthe article stops. The plungers 108 force the overlying folds of thewrapper into the indentedends of the packages and by their heat causethe solvent to penetrate the coating and then to evaporate.

As the article is advanced again by the motion of the chains the articleis deposited at station a, which is adjacent its former position due tothe position of the sprockets '17. At the station a the package is inline with a pair of opposed plungers 122 also mounted on the members109. By using two spaced pairs of heated plungers the time during whichthe packages are subjected to heat is increased without the necessity ofincreasing the period of dwell of the packages at any one station.Furthermore, by breaking up the heating period into successive stageswith an intervening period of reduced pressure the escape of thevolatile solvent is facilitated and danger of the volatilized liquidbeing forced into the interior of the package is minimized.

The completely wrapped artcles are delivered by the pressure offollowing articles onto a belt 123 by which they are conveyed away fromthe machine. A drag 124, held down by a spring 125, is preferablypositioned adjacent the end of the delivery chute to exert resistanceupon the package being delivered from the folding channel and thus toprevent overtravel of the arti le deposited by the chain in position a.

I claim:

1. A method of sealing articles which comprises applying a sealing liquibetween overlying flaps of the wrapper, and applying heat and pressureto the overlying flaps in successive stages with a period of reducedpressure intervening to facilitate the driving off of entrapped sealingliquid by the heat.

2. A method of sealing articles in moistureproof cellophane whichcomprises applying between overlying fiaps of the wrapper a solvent forthe moisture-proofing coating thereof, and applying heat and pressure tothe overlying flaps in successive stages with a period of reducedpressure intervening to facilitate the driving off of the solvent by theheat.

3. A wrapping machine comprising means for forwarding step by step anarticle enclosed in a wrapper, heating devices presenting a plurality ofspaced surfaces shaped to produce an indented end in the wrapper, andmeans for moving said devices towards the article so as to contacttherewith at a plurality of rest stations and away from the articleduring its periods of travel.

4. A wrapping machine comprising means for forwarding step by step anarticle enclosed in a wrapper, an electrically heated member locatedadjacent each side of the article path and bearing a plurality of raisedportions shaped to produce indented ends on the package, spring meansyieldingly urging said members towards each other, and positively actingmechanism for moving said members apart at timed intervals to permit thearticle to be advanced from one to the other of said raised portions.

5. A wrapping machine comprising a folding channel, means for movinginto the channel an article having a wrapper in tubular form around it,a front tucker at each side of the channel positioned to make fronttucks in the tubular end extensions of the Wrapper, tuckers for makingrear end tucks in said end extensions, a wick located in the uppersurface of said front tuckers to coat the under side of each upper endflaps with a sealing liquid, and means for supplying a sealing liquid tothe wicks.

6. A wrapping machine comprising a folding channel, means for movingalong the channel an article having a wrapper in tubular form around it,a stationary folder at each side of the channel positioned to make fronttucks in thetubular end extensions of the wrapper, tuckers for makingrear end tucks in said end extensions, a wick located in the uppersurface of said stationary folders to coat the under side of each upperend flap with a sealing liquid, folding means for turning the coatedupper flaps against the ends of the article, a wick mounted for movementagainst the upper surface of each lower end flap, means for supplyingsaid wicks with a sealing liquid, and folding means for turning thecoated lower end flaps against the ends of the article.

7. A wrapping machine comprising means for supporting an article havinga wrapper partially folded around it, a solvent reservoir, a wick extending from the interior of the reservoir, a transfer member possessingan absorbent surface, and mechanism for moving said transfer memberperiodically from a position of rest where its absorbent surface is incontact with the wick to a position where its absorbent surface contactswith the wrapper.

8. A wrapping machine comprising an intermittently rotatable wrappingwheel having pockets therein, means for inserting in the pocketssuccessively a partially wrapped article having a wrapper fiapprojecting therefrom, an abutment adapted to support the projecting flapat a later stage of rotation of the wheel, a solvent reservoir mountedin adjacency to said support, a wick extending from the interior of thereservoir, a transfer memberpossessing an absorbent surface, andmechanism for moving said transfer member periodically from a positionof rest where its absorbent surface is in contact with the wick to aposition Where its absorbent surface presses the projecting wrapper flapagainst said flap support.

9. A wrapping machine comprising means for supporting an article havinga wrapper partially folded around it, a solvent reservoir, a wickextending from the interior of the reservoir, a transfer memberpossessing an absorbent surface, mechanism for moving said transfermember periodically from a. position of rest where its absorbent surfaceis in contact with the wick to a position where its absorbent surfacepresses the wrapper against the wrapper support, and means for adjustingthe length of stroke of the transfer member to accommodate wrappers ofdifferent length.

10. A wrapping machine comprising means for supporting an article havinga wrapper partially folded around it, a solvent reservoir, a wickextending from the interior of the reservoir, an oscillating shaft, anarm fixed thereto, a transfer member pivoted to said arm and bearing astrip of absorbent material at its free end, an adjustably mountedpivot, a link connecting said pivot and the transfer member, a secondarm connected to the oscillating shaft and provided with av slot, and areciprocating link adjustably secured in the slot.

11. A wrapping machine comprising means for forwarding step by stepalong a straight path an article having a wrapper upon it folded toprovide opposite tubular end extensions, rear tuckers movable againstsaid extensions for forming rear tucks therein, front tuckers formingfront tucks therein, plate-like upper folders movable against the upperprojecting flaps' of the wrapper during a period of dwell of the articleto fold said upper flaps against the article end, and plate-like lowerfolders movable against the lower projecting flaps ofthe wrapper whilethe article is moving at right-tangles to the direction of movement ofsaid foldersto fold said lower flaps against the article end.

12. A wrapping machine comprising means for forwarding step by step anarticle enclosed in a wrapper having a volatile sealing liquid betweenits overlapping flaps, a plurality of heating devices located at spacedrest stations of the article, and means automatically operable in timedrelation with the forwarding means to move the heating devices againstthe article while the article is at rest and away from the article asthe article is being moved ahead by the forwarding means, whereby heatand pressure is applied to the overlapping flaps in successive stageswith a period of reduced pressure intervening to facilitate the drivingofi of the en trapped sealing liquid by the heat.

13. A wrapping machine for wrapping articles in a wrapper having acoating rendered adhesive by the application of a solvent whichcomprises means for wrapping an article in a wrapper with certain flapsof the wrapper overlapping, means for applying a solvent between thecontacting surfaces of said flaps, and means for exerting heat andpressure against the overlapped flaps in a plurality of separateapplications with a period of reduced pressure intervening to facilitatethe driving oil of the entrapped solvent by the heat.

FRANCIS ROSS CLARQK.

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